I just managed to catch the show by the newly formed Belleville artist group "Below the Line " before it was taken down. Luckily several of the artists were present and were able to explain their work to my friends and I. The show was held at the CORE centre on Pinnacle Street, the home of the old public library and they had made good use of a large empty space as well as a number of stairwells and hallways.
I was very impressed with the quality of the art. I wasn't expecting much, as the artists were mainly unknown or "outsiders" to the regular art community.
Artists Below the Line is an informal collective of 14 local artists of limited means.
It was created last year by artists Peter Paylor, Lisa Morris and Kenny.
The group sat Kenny’s porch, venting their frustrations with being unable to get work shown and to afford membership in other arts groups.
They instead formed their own, founding Artists Below the Line in November.
The reason for the group formation Kenny explained to me, was the the high cost of showing art, or even belonging to a local art association. The Belleville Art Association now has an annual fee of $75 plus $5 a month every time you want to hang a picture in the gallery. Gallery 121 costs even more at $60 a month.
None of the artwork was of traditional still lifes, flowers or landscapes. Even the photography was all digitalised, gel transferred onto canvas, or altered in some other creative way.
Wood carvings that were inspired by Emily Carr drawing were selling like hot cakes. The artists told me that 40 pieces of art had been sold from that show that only lasted for two weeks.
I was very impressed with the quality of the art. I wasn't expecting much, as the artists were mainly unknown or "outsiders" to the regular art community.
Artists Below the Line is an informal collective of 14 local artists of limited means.
It was created last year by artists Peter Paylor, Lisa Morris and Kenny.
The group sat Kenny’s porch, venting their frustrations with being unable to get work shown and to afford membership in other arts groups.
They instead formed their own, founding Artists Below the Line in November.
The reason for the group formation Kenny explained to me, was the the high cost of showing art, or even belonging to a local art association. The Belleville Art Association now has an annual fee of $75 plus $5 a month every time you want to hang a picture in the gallery. Gallery 121 costs even more at $60 a month.
None of the artwork was of traditional still lifes, flowers or landscapes. Even the photography was all digitalised, gel transferred onto canvas, or altered in some other creative way.
Wood carvings that were inspired by Emily Carr drawing were selling like hot cakes. The artists told me that 40 pieces of art had been sold from that show that only lasted for two weeks.
